Disposable urinal



Oct. 14, 1958 L. J. SULLIVAN 2,855,607

DISPOSABLE URINAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 30, 1956 v INVENTOR.

J SULLIVAN ATTURAEYS Oct. 14,1958

Filed April so, 1956 L. J. SULLIVAN DISPOSABLE URINAI.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. LA WRENCE J SULL/ VA N ATTORNEYS States 2,855,607 nIsrosABLn URINAL Application April 30, 1956, Serial No. 581,770

Claims. (Cl. 4-110) This invention is concerned with disposable containers, particularly disposable urinals and provides new and improved structures to this end.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 492,560, filed March 7, 1955, since matured into Patent No. 2,819,472, dated January 14, 1958. It has been proposed heretofore to provide disposable urinals, particularly for hospital use. Conventional urinals are not disposable and present a sanitary problem, as well as a labor difiiculty, for the cleansing of such equipment is a disagreeable task which most people do not assume willingly. But the structures heretofore proposed have not been successful for a number of reasons. Some have been too complicated and expensive and those within economic reach have been flimsy or have required excessive storage space.

The containers of my invention are not subject to the objections which have ruled out prior proposals. They are adequately rugged and can be mass produced from inexpensive and readily available materials. They are convenient to use and handle both by the patient and the attendant, and require relatively little storage space. They may be made of material having low thermal conductivity so that they are not cold to touch, and when made of non-metallic material are not as noisy as conventional types.

In essence, my invention contemplates a container having an inverted frusto-conical wall of relatively flexible and impermeable material, such as plastic, say polystyrene, or cardboard waterproofed with wax or other waterimpermeable coating composition. The bottom of the container is an impermeable disc disposed obliquely to the axis of the frusto-conical side wall, which tapers inwardly toward the bottom. The disc may be made of rigid material such as sheet metal, but preferably is formed of the same sheet stock, say waxed cardboard,

which is employed to form the wall. The wall forward of the bottom when the latter is level.

Disposable urinals constructed as described above are nestable, so that a large number of them can be stacked one within-the other in relatively small space.

projects When the urninals are put into service a handle is" desirable, and this is formed conveniently by bending the side wall longitudinally at the top in line with the deepest portion of the urinal, which may be considered as the back portion. cent portions of the side walls on opposite sides of the bend or crease abut each other. In other words, these portions are squeezed together. If desired, the handle portions thus formed may be secured by stapling or otherwise fastening the two wall portions to each other.

In the preferred form of my invention the upper rim of the urinal is notched at the back to facilitate bending inthe proper place, i. e. along a longitudinal rear fold line, and fastening means for the two side portions (which are squeezed together ,to make the. handle) are incorporated in the structure.

The bending is continued until adjaatent Ofitice 2,855,607 Patented Oct. 14, 1958 The notch on the upper rim of the urinal at the back serves another purpose. If the notch is lacking, the space between nested urinals tends to become sealed, so that a partial vacuum develops when an attempt is made to separate them. If the urinals are notched, the space between the nested vessels tends to be vented, and this venting can be positively assured if stops are provided on the urinal wall to prevent tight sealing of one urinal within another.

I have found that the bottom of the urinal, in the condition in which it is made and stored, should be nonplanar and so shaped that it becomes substantially flat when the vessel is squeezed into shape for use. To this end, the bottom should be in the shape of a rocker with the curve of the rocker extending fore and aft. When a urinal with a bottom of this shape is squeezed at the back and rear to form the handle, the side wall of the vessel is disorted and the rocker-shaped bottom tends to flatten into a plane. This plane bottom makes the urinal more stable.

These and other aspects of the invention will be understood completely in the light of the following detailed description of presently preferred examples. The description is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of one form of the urinal of the invention, with the handle formed at the back and secured by substantially integral fastening means;

Fig. 2 is a side view of a group of the urinals of Fig. 1 stacked or nested within each other and prior to the bending operation which forms the handles;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view of a urinal of the type of Fig. 1 in which the two wall portions which form the handle are stapled together instead of being held by integral fastening means;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side view of a urinal constructed as in Fig. 1, but employing an alternate integral fastening means;

Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a section taken through the handle portion of a urinal such as that of Fig. 1, but equipped with still another alternate form of integral fastening means;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a urinal like that of Fig. 1, but employing a snap fastener for the handle portion;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side View of the structure of Fig. 7, with the two wall portions bent together and held by the snap fastener;

Fig. 9 is a view of one side of a presently preferred form of the urinal of the invention;

Fig. 10 is a view of the opposite side of the urinal of Fig. 9, illustrating how urinals of this form are nested within each other;

Fig. 11 is a side view of the urinal of Fig. 10 after the handle has been formed on it by squeezing it at the back and rear, the squeezing also serving to flatten out the bottom; and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary section through the structure of Fig. 11 taken along the line 12-12.

The urinal of Fig. 1 has a frusto-conical wall 10 which flares upwardly to a rim 11 defined by a plane approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 12 of the wall section. The angle 13 of flare may vary considerably, but should be relatively slight, say 10 to 15. If the flare angle is substantially less than this, the nesting is insufficient. If the flare angle is much greater than 15 the urinal is diflicult to use and handle.

The urinal of Fig. 1 has an elliptical bottom 14 set obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the wall and joined to the wall by a downwardly extending annular flange 15. The bottom may be fastened to the side wall by cementing or'crimping, or both. 'The'angle 16 which the plane of the bottom-makes-with--the-longitudinal-axis--of the wall may vary, but I have found-that an angle of about 50 is satisfactory and tends to lend stability to the structure when'it is filled with the I'istiab'anrouiit of litquid; say to the level 17. 'If'the" angle le 'is""tdo great,'-the u. tends "to tip forward when" filled, beca'tise the' ceht gravity'is 'toofarforward'and beyondthevertical projection'of the bottom. v

'The wall of the urinal er Figi Phas'a notchedpo'rtic'anHS on its rimattheba'ck. 'Thisnot'chfacilitates folding a'diacent portions-of'the side wall together, so th'at the'y form a handle, this bending operatienbeing-conducted after the urinal has-"been 'rernoV'ed frOm the stack and prior to use. 1

'Theupper rim'of-theurinal is reinforced at the' front byan integrally fo'rmed-folded'portion 18A. This '-not only "reinforces the front'of-the 'urinalbut avoids a sharp edge at this point.

It is not'essential'th'at the two'port'ionsof the'wall'which are folded to'form the-ha'ndle besecured to each other,

for the fingers in grasping' 'the'handle, tend'to hold them together. 'Howeveryit is-sometimes convenientto secure them to each other. One simple means of securing them together is by means of a staple 19 as illustrated in Fig. 3. Such a staple is easily inserted with a convenient officetype stapling machine. Another simple fastening means comprises a'layer or layers of adhesive on the inside of the vessel. A number of coating compositions are available which adhere firmly to'a backing upon which they -are applied as a liquid film. But these films,when dry,'do not adhere firmly'to a piece of unco-ated backing material but do adhere firmly to another'of the dried film. If the inside wallofthe urinal iscoated on bothsides of the rear notch withsuch' a coating composition, the urinals may be nested without sticking. Howeverg if'the two coatings are pressed together'after the urinal is separated, they adhere to each other and hold thetwo sides together just as firmly as the staple. I prefer, however; to incorporate fastening-means such as those illustrated in FigsL-l, 4, 5,-6, 7 and 8. Such fastening means make the fastening operation independent of a stapling machine or the like, which maynot be available when and where it is needed. V v I As shown in Figs. 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, it is desirable to provide an aperture through the handle for the fingers, as in the handle of a teacup, and this adds to the convenience and security of handling and reduces the danger of dropping or tipping, with resultant spillage.

In the urinal of Fig. 1, the handle portion is provided with matching flaps 20, which are bent downwardly over each other, after the two side portions have been bent together, leaving a finger aperture 21. 51f desired, each flap may be providedwith parallel slits 22, 23, so that the portion 24 of the flaps between the slits may be bent outwardly to receive akey 24A, such 'as a match-stick. The key is inserted through the keyway thus formed and anchors the two flaps together.

In the structure illustrated in Figs; 4 and 5, the two wall portions which form-the handle are .-ag'ain-provi'ded with matching finger apertures 25, 26, but" only' oneof the'apertures has a flap 27. This fiap is sh'aped like a blunt spear head. The curved 'sideportions of'thefiap are bent to form ears' 28 29. Whenthe ears are fielded over the flap will'pass'through a s1it"30, which"is liotas long as the flap (including the cars) is wide. After' the flap has been inserted in the 'slit,-'the ears are"bentout again and hold the flap i'n the'slit.

In the structure of Fig. 6, a fiap' 31 is joined to the lower edge of an aperture 32 on o-ne'side ofthefold line (not shown) of the handle. This flap is folded-down, passed through a matching aperture 33 on the other side of the fold line and held'in place by a snap'fas'tener34, consisting of two parts,"one 34A fastened to theflap,

the other 34B embedded in the side of the container im- --media-tely below the matching aperture -33.

urinal from seating completely the second flap is caught. vent complete seating and also-keeps the vessels from A practical and convenient means of holding the handle portions of the container wall together is illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. In this modification, the wall portions on the two sides of the fold line 35 defined by the notch are provided respectively with the male and female members 36A, 36B of a snap fastener. The members are firmly affixed to the wall portions and since they are disposed symmetrically with respect to the fold line they come togtlier"when the container is folded. Then the male member snaps into-the'fernale member and'the two wall portions-are; held together. If desired, matching orifices 37A, 37B may be provided in the respective wall portions between the snap'rnembersandthe fold line, so that the fingers of the user may be inserted after the handle is formed.

As I have already indicated, the urinal of Figs. 9, 1.0 and His 21 presently'preferred formand has anumber 'ofdesir'able features. Like the-previous examples, it has (as made, shipped and stored) an inverted frusto-conical wall 40. Theb'ottom41, however, instead of being flat, is rocker-shaped (as seen in Figs; 9 and '10) with the curve of 'the rocker "extending fromfront to back. The bottom, although rocker-shaped, is. still disposed oblique to the central axis of the frusto-c'onical wall, so that the front of the'wall 'exten'dsbeyo'nd the bottom. Preferably the bottom is an oval disc with the long axis of the oval extending from front to back. It may be integral with the side wall if desired.

The 'f'ront'edger'im portion-of the urinal has a front fiap tZ; definedby -notches"'43,'-'*44. This flap is folded down when the urinal is prepared for use. In this fashion the'front of the urinal is reinforced and doubled'and the exposed edge becomes a rou'nrled 'fold45 (see Fig. 11) which adds to comfort" during use.

A deep'v shap'edrear notch 46isformed at the top and rear of the -nrinal of Figs; 9 and 10. The apex 'of the notch ison a foldline' 4.7 extending up the back of the vesselfrom the bottom. As'sh'own in Fig. 9 there is a first aperture 48 at the back of the urinal on one side near 'the top. 'This first notch-contains an integrally formed -first' locking'fiap 49 adapted to be bent inwardly along a-'fo1d line '50 at the bottomofthe aperture. The other side of the urinal, as shown in Fig. 10, has a slit 51 -disposed symmetrically withthefold line 50, so that when the't vvos'ide's are squeezed together the flap 49 may be slipped through the slit 51',- thus fastening the two sides of the urinal together. The side of the urinal containing the slit has a second aperture 52, which is disposed approximately symmetrically to the aperture 43 on the 'otheris'rde. When the1fiap"49 is placed-in the slit 51,

the two apertures come together in matching relationship. Then a second locking flap 53 formed integrally with side wall (and joining it at an-upper fold line 54at the top -'of the second aperture) may be bent to pass through the first aperture, providingan additional fastening means between the two sides when theyareforced-together to form the handle 55 (see Fig.1 1).

As shown in Fig. 10, when one urinal is nested within another the second flap 53 catches over the rim 57 of the lower-urinal and forms a stop that prevents the upper in the lower. Preferably the rim is provided with a side notch'57A in which This side notch helps to pretwisting withrespect to their longitudinalaxis. In consequence,-air can enter thespace 58 between the nested urinals-via the rear notch46, which serves as a vent for this space and facilitates pulling the nested urinals apart,

since there is no air-tight seal between the two bottoms.

To-prepare the nested urinals for-use, they are first separated. -Next the front flap of each urinal is bent down. Then the first locking flap 49 on each urinal is' bent' inward' toward the 'slit '51 in the opposite side and the two sides are squeezed together along the rear fold line at the same time that the first locking flap is inserted in the slit, the squeezing being continued until the two sides are forced together approximately down to another line 59. The first locking flap is then bent down to lock the two sides together, and the second locking flap 53 is bent to pass through the second aperture and then upward to form a second lock (see Figs. 11 and 12). When these operations are completed the rocker-shaped bottom will assume a substantially flat form (as shown in Fig. 11). At the same time the handle is formed and the front wall of the vessel is projected forward and re-shaped into a spout, while the rear wall is forced backward below the handle, the net result being to produce a convenient and stable vessel.

I claim:

1. A container having an impermeable flexible inverted frusto-conical wall and an impermeable flexible bottom disposed obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the frustoconical wall, so that the front of the wall projects beyond the bottom, the latter being rocker-shaped from front to back so that it tends to become flat when adjacent wall portions are squeezed together at the top and rear of the container.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the upper rim of the container is notched deeply at the back.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the upper rim of the container is deeply notched at the back and the wall of the container is provided with a stop to keep one of the containers from nesting completely in the other.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the upper rim of the container is deeply notched at the back and mating fastening means are disposed respectively on the two wall portions of the container on opposite sides of the notch.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 provided with a flap on the front rim portion of the container, which flap may be folded down to reinforce this part of the container wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 62,233 Gray Apr. 24, 1923 

